Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first-ever rally in the Valley on Monday, security was tightened across Srinagar with heavily armed soldiers frisking almost every person and checking all vehicles.
Mr. Modi, who did not come to the Valley while campaigning for the Parliamentary polls, is scheduled to arrive here around 12.30 p.m. and address the rally at Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket stadium amid a three-tier security cordon. The BJP has set a target of one lakh crowd for the rally.
According to the J&K police, 50 companies of the State police, the Central Reserve Police Force, the J&K Armed Police and the Indian Reserve Police have been deployed all over the city to ensure foolproof security. “We have put up 30 mobile checkpoints in Srinagar,” a senior police officer told The Hindu .
While the Army won’t be a part of the security arrangements in Srinagar, it has been deployed around the city to check vehicles entering the city. Also several choppers will be conducting aerial surveillance of the venue. “They will be ready in case of any contingency,” Army spokesperson Lt. Col. N.N. Joshi told The Hindu .
